CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern dropped game three of the season series vs. the Liberty Flames, falling 5-1 Friday, at Buccaneer Field. The Flames managed to win the series 2-1, after Tiffani Smith threw 5.1 hitless innings in relief, to earn her second win of the weekend. The Bucs tallied just three hits on the day and stranded nine on base, after scoring their only run in the first. CSU dropped to 21-21-1 overall with a 5-6 mark in conference play, while Liberty improved to 21-11 and 6-3 in the Big South.

Erin Kegley had the only extra base hit of the day for CSU, using an RBI double in the first inning to score the Bucs' lone run. Megan Hall recorded a hit and a run scored, while also drawing two walks. Cassie Hendrix paced the offense for the Flames, with three hits, one RBI and one run scored.

The first inning was the most eventful of the game, with both teams tallying a run. J'nae Jefferson started with a lead-off single and advanced to scoring position after a sacrifice bunt. Ashley Bensinger put Liberty on the board first, thanks to an RBI single.

CSU answered in the bottom of the inning, using three hits to score a run. Hall reached base first with a single and went on to steal second. A Shayla Cullum single and Kegley double scored the run and put two in scoring position with just one out. The Bucs couldn't manage anymore offense however, after a strikeout and fly out ended the inning.

Both teams had scoring opportunities in the second, but came up blank after stranding runners. Smith came in with the bases loaded in the bottom of the second, getting out of the jam with a strikeout. The third was also an empty inning, with both squads retiring three batters in order.

The Flames took control in the top of the fourth, posting three runs on two hits and two walks in the inning. After allowing a lead-off walk, Sondra Vetter took a nasty line drive off of her leg, to put runners at first and third. Liberty took advantage, using a wild pitch to score one, before a Jenny Law two RBI single gave the Flames a 4-1 advantage.

Caitlin Allen stepped in the circle for CSU in the fifth, allowing one more run after two hits in the inning. Meredith Baisden and Hendrix each had hits in a two-out rally, to put Liberty on top 5-1.

Smith had the Bucs shut down from there, as CSU put just one runner on base in the final three innings. The Bucs had a lead-off walk in the bottom of the sixth, but failed to advance the runner. Another one, two, three inning for Smith in the bottom of the seventh wrapped up a final 5-1 win for the Flames.

Smith improved to 12-3 on the year with the win, after throwing 5.1 innings with no hits and nine strikeouts. Vetter took the loss and dropped to 7-12, after allowing six hits and four runs in four innings of work.

CSU will stay at home next week, playing a single game vs. the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers on Wednesday, April 14, at 3 p.m.